MLB Security Measures

[godwulf]

Re: MLB Security Measures

It's too bad, but we live in a dangerous world. In December 2000 I went to the Windows of the World restaurant in the World trade center and was annoyed when they searched me and checked out my camera before letting me on the elevator to the restaurant. Less than 9 months later we had 9-11.

Yeah, amazing that something like 9-11 could have happened, isn't it? I mean, considering all the camera bag checking that had been going on?

Not trying to be a smartass here. No, wait - maybe I am.

[godwulf]

Re: MLB Security Measures

You cannot bring any bats into Oriole Park nor can you carry one around the stadium if purchased during a game in the case of a game used bat you may take possession once you are ready to leave and must be escorted to the gate with it and you also cannot gain access to the Club Level unless you are ticketed to be on that level

Such is the world we live in today especially due to the necessary security measures that need to be taken in light of current world events

Because as we all know, one of international terrorism's weapons of choice is a baseball bat.

Kool-Aid, anyone?

[mr.miracle]

Re: MLB Security Measures

Because as we all know, one of international terrorism's weapons of choice is a baseball bat.

Kool-Aid, anyone?

In Baltimore at least it is likely more an issue with half of the stadium attendees being completely drunk by the 4th inning and the potential damage that could be done by a drunk fan wielding a bat when a rival fan happens to walk by

Baltimore has to be one of the only stadiums in the league where alcohol sales per game have at times outpaced overall food sales which is just a staggering thought to comprehend

[cjclong]

Re: MLB Security Measures

There are probably more ways to destroy and kill people at building and events than we have thought of. But we have to protect against those that we can anticipate. A bomb in the restaurant wouldn't have destroyed the Trade Center, but it could have killed many people in the restaurant. If people going through the gates aren't checked some day some one will walk right through with a bomb. Its a hassle and we understandably don't like it, but the inconvenience is out weighed when you consider the devastation that can be done to humans as happened at the Boston Marathon.

[godwulf]

Re: MLB Security Measures

I'm sure that security precautions were taken before and during the Boston Marathon that year, but they did no good, did they? And if they had been more stringent, making the smuggling in of pressure cookers impossible, they'd have blown up somewhere else and perhaps killed even more people. A small plane could have crashed itself into the finish line before anyone could have lifted a finger to stop it, and there are a hundred other terrorist scenarios that might have been carried out against which no restrictions or searches would have been effective.

My point is simply that we can't make each other walk around all the time carrying transparent bags, emptying our pockets, taking off our shoes everywhere we go and passing through metal detectors every fifty feet. America is becoming a paranoid police state, and I don't like it.

As for the prohibitions on having bats in the stands, wouldn't a more comprehensive and sensible solution be to prohibit and punish public drunkenness at the park? At the first sign of intoxicated behavior, an usher alerts security and the drunk is put outside - problem solved. And a cop is waiting outside to ensure that he/she isn't going to try to drive home.

[kellsox]

Re: MLB Security Measures

As for the prohibitions on having bats in the stands, wouldn't a more comprehensive and sensible solution be to prohibit and punish public drunkenness at the park? At the first sign of intoxicated behavior, an usher alerts security and the drunk is put outside - problem solved. And a cop is waiting outside to ensure that he/she isn't going to try to drive home.

Says the guy not liking a police state. I don't need bats being carried around by people in a 30,000 person crowd confined in a small space. I see enough fights in stands to not need another potential hazard being avail to people -drunk or not. Out of curiosity, how should stadiums screen fans??? I have read plenty of complaints

[godwulf]

Re: MLB Security Measures

Says the guy not liking a police state.

You don't see the difference between escorting an obviously drunk individual out of the ballpark - in other words, acting to punish someone breaking the law - and treating everyone who walks into the ballpark as a potential criminal terrorist? Really?

I don't need bats being carried around by people in a 30,000 person crowd confined in a small space.

Bats are allowed at Chase Field - always have been - and in the fifteen years I've been going to games there, not a single violent incident involving a bat has ever occurred. Not even when the Dodgers are in town.

Incidentally, any adult citizen can carry a concealed firearm on their person in Arizona, and even though guns in the ballpark are prohibited, but I can just about guarantee you that many pistolas have been carried into that place without incident.

I see enough fights in stands to not need another potential hazard being avail to people -drunk or not.

Maybe Arizona fans are just a little more mellow (or civilized) than people are where you live, but the only fight I can remember ever seeing at any of the hundreds of Diamondbacks games I've attended was a small shoving, beer-throwing fracas at Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.

Out of curiosity, how should stadiums screen fans??? I have read plenty of complaints

How about just doing what they've always done? Looking in bags to make sure you're not carrying in unauthorized food - that sort of thing.

[xpress34]

Re: MLB Security Measures

Bats have always been allowed inside Coors Field as well (celebrating it's 20th Anniversary this year) and I have never seen an incident with a bat.

[ballhawknet]

Re: MLB Security Measures

About ten years ago White Sox would not allow baseballs ... think it was the second day of the season . Told me " projectiles " were not allowed in . Took me 20 minutes to find someone with authority to over rule them . Only time it happened there .

2006 opening day reds was not allowed in with baseballs . President was throwing out first pitch . Then they proceeded to have batting practice and I had
my 6 projectiles

[cjclong]

Re: MLB Security Measures

So you would recommend that there be no security measures taken at the upcoming Patriots Day April 20 Boston Marathon because it didn't stop the last one? Look at airline security, which I admit is a pain for all of us. There have been no more 9-11 successful terrorists incidents in this country on commercial airlines since that happened. Would you suggest since they didn't stop the first one they just say never mind and leave the gates wide open. I can guaranty that the number of successful terrorists attacks on planes here wouldn't be zero since 9-11 if they did that. I don't walk around taking off my shoes, going through metal detectors, and carrying transparent bags when I go to the mall, store, parks where I live. The places where we have to do these things are at stadiums, airports, etc, that are targets for terrorist. Out side of that I think most of us move around pretty freely. We can't protect everything, but that doesn't mean we protect nothing. We can argue about things like NASA surveillance, but I don't think brief checks at potential terrorists targets makes this a police state.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: MLB Security Measures

About ten years ago White Sox would not allow baseballs ... think it was the second day of the season . Told me " projectiles " were not allowed in . Took me 20 minutes to find someone with authority to over rule them . Only time it happened there .

2006 opening day reds was not allowed in with baseballs . President was throwing out first pitch . Then they proceeded to have batting practice and I had
my 6 projectiles

Once I was hassled for bringng a baseball into the Wrigley Field bleachers, and it was in a Ball Cube (an item I planned to sell to a Wrigley ballhawk later. When I told them what the ball was (signed 1950's Milwaukee Braves team ball) and cited the value, surprisingly, they relented...not what I was expecting.

Dave M.

[johnsontravis@ymail.com]

Re: MLB Security Measures

Everyone complains about things like this because it has never happened...why must we always wait to have a horrible incident to ban something. What on earth do you need a bat inside the ballparks for?

What if tomorrow a little kid is beat to death with a bat at Coors by some drunk person? Do you still stand by your statements thinking it is ok?

This isn't that big of a hassle and I will gladly go through it.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: MLB Security Measures

Everyone complains about things like this because it has never happened...why must we always wait to have a horrible incident to ban something. What on earth do you need a bat inside the ballparks for?

What if tomorrow a little kid is beat to death with a bat at Coors by some drunk person? Do you still stand by your statements thinking it is ok?

This isn't that big of a hassle and I will gladly go through it.

I've gotta agree with you on this.

After the resumption of play following the 9/11 terrorist attack, I was outside Comiskey Park with a longtime buddy of mine who was an autograph chaser. He whined and moaned about the security clampdown then, mainly because he had to bring a smaller bag, and, subsequently, had to reduce how many items he could bring to get signed.

After the complaining about the status quo got to be too much, I finally told him, "Look, Tom, we've just had the worst terrorist attack in US history on our own soil, and stadiums are gonna do this to try an ensure that no one carries out an attack here". Unfortunately, he was so caught up in his reduced ability to get autographs that I had to repeat that thought 3 or 4 more times before it finally sunk in.

I'm not trying to belittle or criticize any previous posters on this thread, but at some point you need to realize that, in today's world, especially with the current terrorist appeaser we have running the country, that safety trumps the hobby 100 times out of 100. Sure, it's an imposition, and an annoyance, but I'd rather increase my ability to be safe at a sports stadium than to complain about having to make accomodations in my hobby pursuits because of recent history.

Dave Miedema

[Phil316]

Re: MLB Security Measures

I'm sure that security precautions were taken before and during the Boston Marathon that year, but they did no good, did they? And if they had been more stringent, making the smuggling in of pressure cookers impossible, they'd have blown up somewhere else and perhaps killed even more people. A small plane could have crashed itself into the finish line before anyone could have lifted a finger to stop it, and there are a hundred other terrorist scenarios that might have been carried out against which no restrictions or searches would have been effective.

My point is simply that we can't make each other walk around all the time carrying transparent bags, emptying our pockets, taking off our shoes everywhere we go and passing through metal detectors every fifty feet. America is becoming a paranoid police state, and I don't like it.

As for the prohibitions on having bats in the stands, wouldn't a more comprehensive and sensible solution be to prohibit and punish public drunkenness at the park? At the first sign of intoxicated behavior, an usher alerts security and the drunk is put outside - problem solved. And a cop is waiting outside to ensure that he/she isn't going to try to drive home.

I agree 100%.

[godwulf]

Re: MLB Security Measures

Everyone complains about things like this because it has never happened...why must we always wait to have a horrible incident to ban something. What on earth do you need a bat inside the ballparks for?

Have you forgotten what kind of a board you're posting on? I'd guess the majority of members here are bat collectors, and most of us like to get those bats signed, whenever possible. I'm having a difficult time believing you were even serious when you asked that question.

What if tomorrow a little kid is beat to death with a bat at Coors by some drunk person? Do you still stand by your statements thinking it is ok?

What if tomorrow somebody drives a car a hundred miles an hour into a line of people waiting outside the ballpark to get in? What if tomorrow somebody kills a child at the ballpark by cramming a foot-long chili dog down his throat? What if the lady who waves the flags up in the cheap seats all through the game goes berserk and beats somebody to death with one of the flagpoles? My God, how about all of those typed-up, testosterone-filled jocks down on the field - they've got bats! The place is a death trap!

This isn't that big of a hassle and I will gladly go through it.

It's Security Theatre. Glad you enjoy the show.